Santa Maria Health School

Porto, Portugal

Santa Maria Health School (SMHS), officially the Escola Superior de Saúde de Santa Maria, is a specialised higher-education institution in Porto, Portugal, focused on healthcare education and professional training. Established in 2016, it continues the educational tradition of nursing education that began in 1949 at Santa Maria Hospital in Porto.
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Experience Exceptional Student Facilities & Services at Santa Maria Health School

Santa Maria Health School has a specialised, practice-oriented healthcare infrastructure designed to support clinical training, simulation and applied learning. Its facilities include three physiotherapy gyms, three nursing laboratories, a clinical simulation centre, an occupational therapy laboratory and an adapted apartment for practical training. The clinical simulation centre, established in 2018, contains advanced and intermediate simulation rooms, a debriefing room, high- and medium-fidelity simulators, and specialist simulation staff. The School's classrooms and auditoriums are equipped with computer, audiovisual, image and sound systems, supporting both face-to-face and hybrid teaching. Its laboratories, simulation facilities, physiotherapy gyms and occupational therapy spaces are equipped for realistic clinical practice and are regularly modernised. The campus also provides student social and dining areas and outdoor spaces, while digital learning is supported through platforms such as Moodle, the student portal and Office 365.   
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Sports Offered

Handball
Basketball
Futsal

Activities Offered

Art
Clubs/ Societies/Organizations
Dance
Leadership Developing Activities
Student Council
Sports & Recreation

In-House Facility

Sports Pavillion
Fully equipped Gym

Infrastructure

Santa Maria Health School has a specialised, practice-oriented healthcare infrastructure designed to support clinical training, simulation and applied learning. Its facilities include three physiotherapy gyms, three nursing laboratories, a clinical simulation centre, an occupational therapy laboratory and an adapted apartment for practical training. The clinical simulation centre, established in 2018, contains advanced and intermediate simulation rooms, a debriefing room, high- and medium-fidelity simulators, and specialist simulation staff.

The School's classrooms and auditoriums are equipped with computer, audiovisual, image and sound systems, supporting both face-to-face and hybrid teaching. Its laboratories, simulation facilities, physiotherapy gyms and occupational therapy spaces are equipped for realistic clinical practice and are regularly modernised. The campus also provides student social and dining areas and outdoor spaces, while digital learning is supported through platforms such as Moodle, the student portal and Office 365. 

 

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Student Support

Santa Maria Health School provides a broad range of academic, psychological, social and financial support to help students succeed throughout their studies. The Gabinete de Atendimento e Apoio (GAAp) supports academic success, transition and integration into higher education, psychological well-being, career development and employability. It also offers support for students with specific educational needs and coordinates the School’s mentoring programme.

Students have access to learning and digital support through Moodle, the Student Portal, Office 365 and other online platforms, while the School provides workshops, seminars and extracurricular development activities. Financial assistance includes support with DGES scholarships, merit scholarships, the Porto de Conhecimento Scholarship and the Student Support Fund. The Student Support Fund can provide financial or in-kind assistance to students experiencing serious and unexpected financial difficulties. The School also promotes a close learning environment, with small classes and personalised interaction between students and teachers, helping students receive individual academic guidance. 

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Student Life

Student life at Santa Maria Health School (SMHS) is characterised by a close-knit academic community, practical healthcare training and a variety of cultural, social, sporting and volunteering activities. Students can participate in the Student Association (AEESSSM), academic musical groups such as Tuna Santa Maria and Pikatuna, mentoring activities and the School’s volunteer programme, Santa Maria Solidária.

The School also supports an active sports and cultural life, with student teams in sports including futsal, handball, volleyball and basketball. Students can take part in workshops, conferences, seminars, social-responsibility initiatives and community health activities. The GAApE provides psychological support, integration activities and programmes focused on skills such as stress management, communication, teamwork and emotional self-regulation.

The School promotes student integration from the beginning through its Welcome Week and Mentoring Programme, which include social gatherings, games, academic traditions, music, volunteering and activities around Porto. The School's location in the heart of Porto also gives students access to the city's wider university, cultural and leisure environment. 

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Housing facilities (Accommodation)

Santa Maria Health School does not operate its own student residence and does not currently maintain a formal partnership with real-estate agencies. However, the School assists students, particularly international and Erasmus students, by recommending accommodation-search platforms. Its international accommodation information highlights Spotahome, which offers SMHS students a 30% discount using the promotional code ESSSM30, and Student Room Flat (SRF), which provides furnished rooms, shared apartments, student residences, co-living spaces and studios, with a 23% discount using ESSSM23. The School's student support information also indicates that housing assistance and guidance are available through its student-support services, helping students navigate accommodation options in Porto.

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Student Safety

Santa Maria Health School places strong emphasis on student safety, wellbeing and a supportive learning environment. The School has formal regulations covering student conduct, clinical teaching and internships, simulation-centre safety, laboratory and gym use, and the rights of students with specific educational needs.

The School also provides free individual student support, including psychological and wellbeing assistance. Its Peer Mentoring Programme helps new students adapt to higher education and develop a sense of belonging, while the “Riscos e Desafios” programme promotes healthy behaviours, interpersonal skills and prevention of substance-related risks. The School's clinical and practical facilities operate under dedicated regulations, helping ensure safe conditions during laboratory, simulation and clinical training. 

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Career Support

Santa Maria Health School has a strong career and employability focus, helping students transition from academic study to professional healthcare careers. Its Career Day connects students directly with hospitals, clinics, recruitment organisations, professional associations and other employers, providing opportunities for networking and learning about vacancies and recruitment processes. The school also offers career-orientation sessions and workshops covering CV preparation, LinkedIn, interviews, professional profiles, entrepreneurship and digital/AI tools. Its extensive network of healthcare protocols and clinical placements further strengthens students’ exposure to potential employers. The school reports that 100% of surveyed graduates are employed in the health sector within the first year, while the average time to employment is reported as less than one year. 

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University Of Santa Maria Health School Application Statistics

€ 12000
€ 4500

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* All cost are in EUR

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